Title: The Training
Author: Tara Sue Me
Publisher/Year: Penguin Group (USA) 10/1/13
Length: 336 Pages
Series: Submissive Trilogy #3
Overview
Now, in the enticing conclusion to Tara Sue Me’s Submissive Trilogy, the submissive and her dominant explore just how long they can make the pleasure last
It started with a hidden desire.
Millionaire CEO Nathaniel West has always played by his own strict set of rules, ones he expects everyone to follow—especially the women he’s dominated in his bedroom. But his newest lover is breaking down all his boundaries and rewriting his rule book.
Abby King never imagined that she would capture the heart of Nathaniel West, one of New York City’s most eligible bachelors—and its most desirable dominant. What began as a weekend arrangement of pleasure has become a passionate romance with a man who knows every inch of her body and her soul yet remains an enigmatic lover. Though he is tender and caring, his painful past remains a wall between them.
Abby knows the only way to truly earn his trust is to submit to him fully and let go of all of her lingering inhibitions. Because to lead Nathaniel on a path to greater intimacy, she must first let him deeper into her world than anyone has ever gone before
My Thoughts
We’ve seen this couple go on quite the roller coaster throughout their relationship in order to get to the place that they’re at now. They realized that they can’t live without each other, but they can’t fit into the same type of relationship as before. There’s love there which is new for both, but there’s still the D/s side of things and they have to figure out how to make that work.
This final installment opens up with Nathaniel and Abby trying things a bit differently. They’ve decided that Nathaniel will continue to train Abby to be the proper sub, but on weekends only and they will try to have a ‘normal’ relationship during the week. this is new since they will be forced to find the happy balance and manage to understand each other when the time proves itself.
this finale takes us on that journey, where they try to find what works for them, while trying to make sense of it in the real world. Nathaniel wants to push Abby as much as he can without pushing her away, and Abby continues to feel like she’s going to let him down and therefore their relationship …
While this gave me what i was hoping for in closure of the story, i have to say that it wasn’t as great as the other books. there was quite a bit of steam and passion, especially when Nathaniel introduces Abby into the lifestyle in more depth, bringing her to the edge and then not letting her fall over, but i think that there was something missing. there wasn’t a lot of anxiety which is what i’ve come to love in final books of a trilogy.
regardless, if you want the smoky heat from Nathaniel, you get it. if you want Abby giving herself entirely to her master, you get that too. you also get to see the journey that Abby takes to become the perfect sub which is also a nice bit to read.